Michael

Sabine

Elder Müller

Washington D.C. Temple

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like those in ancient times, are holy buildings dedicated to the Lord. A temple, also called the house of the Lord, is a place where worthy Church members receive sacred
ordinances and make solemn covenants with God. In these holy temples, families are sealed together forever. Although design and location vary, the work accomplished in each of the Lord's temples is the same.

Heavenly Father established a plan so that the blessings of the temple could be offered to all His children. People who have received their own ordinances are encouraged to return to the temple often to act as proxies for those who
have died without having the opportunity of going to the temple for themselves.

In December 19-68 Hugh B. Brown of the First Presidency dedicated the site of the Washington D.C. Temple in Kensington, Maryland. The design of the temple has been described as "a light to the world." Three towers to the east represent
the Melchizedek Priesthood leadership, and those to the west represent the Aaronic Priesthood leadership. The Washington D.C. Temple was dedicated on 19 November 19-74 by President Spencer W. Kimball. It became the 16th operating
temple.

During the Christmas season each year, the Church hosts the Festival of Lights on the temple grounds, which people from all over the world come to see. The beauty of the temple and the serenity of the grounds draw the attention of
many, often leading them to investigate the Church. In this way temples add to the missionary efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are truly a "light to the world."

Summary

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are holy buildings dedicated to the Lord. A temple is also called the house of the Lord. It is a place where worthy Church members receive saving ordinances and make sacred
covenants with God. In temples families can be sealed together forever. The Washington D.C. Temple was dedicated on 19 November 19-74 by President Spencer W. Kimball.

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

The Lord reveals His word to the world through holy prophets (Amos 3:7). This has been God's pattern since the world began: "We believe in the same
organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth" (Articles of Faith 1:6).
It is as true today as it was in the times of Adam, Noah, Moses, and Abraham; no one else has the authority to receive commandments and revelations for the Church (D&C 43:2-3).
Through direct revelation to His holy prophet, the Lord teaches us what we need to know.

In ancient times Joseph of Egypt testified that a prophet "great like unto Moses" would be raised up in the last days to restore the Lord's Church and the teachings of His gospel (2 Nephi 3:6-9).
Joseph Smith was this man, "a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of [the] Lord Jesus Christ" (D&C 21:1).

With the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, because he was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, became the leader of the Church. Then on 27 December 1847 he was sustained as the prophet, seer, and revelator and President
of the Church. Each succeeding President of the Church, chosen "through the will of God the Father, and the grace of [the] Lord Jesus Christ," has been called as the Lord's prophet to reveal the word and will of the Lord to the
people of the earth. The President of the Church today is a true prophet, seer, and revelator and acts with the authority of God. When we listen to the voice of the prophet, we hear the word of God.

Summary

Since the time of Adam, the Lord has given instructions and teachings to the people on earth through His chosen prophets. Joseph Smith, the first prophet in the latter days, restored the Church of Jesus Christ and received hundreds
of revelations from the Lord. Many men have succeeded Joseph Smith as prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and each one has received direct revelation from the Lord to teach us what we need
to know.

Brigham Young

President of the Church, 1847-1877

"I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith," said Brigham Young (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 458). He proved to be a loyal friend and follower
of the Prophet Joseph.

His example of speaking out for truth and righteousness caused some to label him the "Lion of the Lord." "I care nothing about my character in this world," he declared. "I do not care what men say about me; I want my character to
stand fair in the eyes of my Heavenly Father" (Brigham Young Office Minutes, 24 April 1859, Historical Department Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

As a colonizer of the West and as governor of Utah Territory, he established orderly cities and fruitful orchards. He acknowledged the Lord's hand in making the desert blossom: "We prayed over the land, and dedicated it and the water,
air and everything pertaining to them unto the Lord, and the smiles of heaven rested on the land and it became productive" (Discourses, 483).

He left this counsel to those who hesitate to pray: "It matters not whether you or I feel like praying; when the time comes to pray, pray. If we do not feel like it, we should pray till we do" (Discourses, 44).

Year

Event

1801

Born on 1 June to John Young and Abigail Howe Young in Whitingham, Vermont

1824

Age 23, marries Miriam Works on 8 October; she dies in 1832

1832

Age 30, baptized on 14 April in his own millpond near Mendon, New York

1832-33

Ages 31-32, serves a mission to Canada and leads a small company of converts to Kirtland, Ohio

1834

Age 32, marries Mary Ann Angell on 18 February; she dies in 1882

1835

Age 33, ordained on 14 February as one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris

1839-41

Ages 38-40, serves a mission to Great Britain

1840

Age 38, sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve on 14 April

1844

Age 43, becomes leader of the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve at Joseph Smith's death on 27 June

1846-47

Ages 44-46, leads the exodus west to the Salt Lake Valley and then returns to Winter Quarters

1847

Age 46, sustained as President of the Church on 27 December, with Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards as counselors

1853

Age 51, lays the cornerstone for the Salt Lake Temple

1877

Age 76, dies on 29 August in Salt Lake City after presiding over the Church for more than 30 years

Summary

Brigham Young, second President of the Church, was the pioneer leader who guided the Saints west to the Salt Lake Valley. He sent families to establish towns and colonies throughout the West. He taught the people to stand for truth
and righteousness, to work hard, and to be educated.

Artist, John Willard Clawson

John Taylor

President of the Church, 1880-1887

John Taylor enjoyed close association with Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. In the early years of the Restoration he became known as "Champion of Liberty and Defender of the Faith" because of his vocal and written support of the Church
and its leaders during times of trouble.

He was shot several times at the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. After a bullet struck him, he started falling out the window of his jail cell. Another bullet, though, struck his watch, and the blow forced him back in the room.
Of this event he wrote, "I felt that the Lord had preserved me by a special act of mercy; that my time had not yet come, and that I had still a work to perform upon the earth." (See History of the Church, 7:119-20.)

He testified at the funeral of President Brigham Young: "We are not alone! God is with us, and He will continue with us from this time henceforth and forever" (quoted in B. H. Roberts, The Life of John Taylor [1963], 325).

He taught that God watches over all the nations and peoples of the earth: "We say we are the children of God. That is true, we are. We are sparks struck from the blaze of His eternal fire. But what of the rest of the world—whose
children are they? They are also the children of our Heavenly Father, and He is interested in their welfare as He is in ours" (quoted in Roberts, The Life of John Taylor, 421).

Year

Event

1808

Born on 1 November at Milnthorpe, England, to James and Agnes Taylor

1833

Age 24, marries Leonora Cannon on 28 January; she dies in 1868

1836

Age 27, baptized with Leonora in Black Creek at Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, on 9 May

1838

Age 30, ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball on 19 December

1839-41

Ages 30-32, serves a mission to England

1844

Age 35, seriously wounded in Carthage Jail when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed on 27 June

1846-47

Ages 37-38, serves a second mission to England

1849-52

Ages 40-43, serves a mission to France and Germany; has the Book of Mormon published in French and German

1854-57

Ages 45-48, presides over the Eastern States Mission

1877

Age 68, leads the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve at Brigham Young's death on 29 August

1880

Age 71, sustained as President of the Church on 10 October, with George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as counselors

1884

Age 75, dedicates the Logan Temple on 17 May

1887

Age 78, dies on 25 July in Kaysville, Utah, after nearly seven years as President of the Church

Summary

John Taylor, third President of the Church, was with the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum when they were shot and killed at Carthage Jail. Though he was shot several times, he said, "I felt that the Lord had preserved me
by a special act of mercy." He taught that God watches over all the nations of the earth and loves His children everywhere.

Artist, A. Westwood

Wilford Woodruff

President of the Church, 1889-1898

When Wilford Woodruff heard the testimonies of two missionaries on 29 December 1833, he was quick to recognize the truth and was baptized just two days later. Because of his humility and willingness to serve, he was called "Wilford
the Faithful" (see Preston Nibley, The Presidents of the Church [1974], 101).

He wrote this advice about family harmony to his 19-year-old daughter: "We are expecting to live together forever after death. I think we all as parents and children ought to take all the pains we can to make each other happy as
long as we live that we may have nothing to regret" (quoted in Dean C. Jessee, "Wilford Woodruff," in The Presidents of the Church, ed. Leonard J. Arrington [1986], 137).

To the young people he taught: "I feel to exhort and counsel you, my young friends, to listen to the voice of God and obey it while young, as Samuel did, that you may be great, good, and useful, and the beloved of the Lord and your
parents. ... Your eternal destiny for time and eternity, will in a great measure depend upon the foundation which you lay in the days of your youth" (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 265-66).

Year

Event

1807

Born on 1 March at Avon (currently Farmington), Connecticut, to Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson Woodruff

1833

Age 26, baptized in an icy stream near Richland, New York, on 31 December

1834-36

Ages 27-29, serves a mission to the southern United States

1837

Age 30, marries Phoebe Carter on 13 April; she dies in 1885

1837-38

Ages 30-31, serves a mission to the eastern United States and the Fox Islands

1839

Age 32, ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young on 26 April

1839-41

Ages 32-34, serves a mission to Great Britain

1843

Age 36, serves a mission to the eastern United States

1844-46

Ages 36-39, serves as president of the European Mission

1847

Age 40, enters Great Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young on 24 July

1887

Age 80, leads the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve at John Taylor's death on 25 July

1888

Age 81, dedicates Manti Temple on 17 May

1889

Age 82, sustained as President of the Church on 7 April; keeps as counselors George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith

1890

Age 83, issues Manifesto on 24 September after receiving a revelation to discontinue the practice of plural marriage

1893

Age 86, dedicates the Salt Lake Temple on 6 April

1898

Age 91, dies on 2 September in San Francisco, California, after nine years as President of the Church

Summary

Wilford Woodruff, fourth President of the Church, quickly recognized the truth of the gospel and was baptized two days after hearing the message. He entered the Great Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young on 24 July 1847. He taught
the young people "to listen to the voice of God and obey it." He said to them, "Your eternal destiny for time and eternity, will in a great measure depend upon the foundation which you lay in the days of your youth."